Mr. Johnston has considerable experience in all aspects of sports, entertainment, new media and advertising law. In the sports field, his practice touches on businesses and individuals of all types whose interests intersect with the sports industry. Mr. Johnston has advised professional sports leagues and governing bodies on broadcast and other media rights, sponsorships and licensing relationships. His work includes counseling clients on stadium naming rights, team and league sponsorships, and multiplatform sports marketing agreements. Mr. Johnston’s practice also involves advising global ticketing services, merchandise licensees and other businesses which support the sports industry.

In the entertainment and new media fields, Mr. Johnston has advised television networks, independent producers, broadcast station groups, motion picture studios, advertising agencies and Internet companies on the development, production and distribution of television programs, motion pictures and other audiovisual content. His work has included the negotiation of acquisition, production and distribution agreements, network affiliation agreements, talent agreements and license agreements, including licenses for Internet and other interactive exploitation, and live event programming, sponsorship and other cross-promotional agreements. Mr. Johnston’s practice also involves motion picture and television rights acquisitions of literary properties, motion picture and video footage library acquisitions, as well as a variety of mergers, acquisitions and other transactions involving the transfer of intellectual property assets.

In the advertising and marketing fields, Mr. Johnston's practice extends from providing advice on the content of advertising copy and direct marketing materials, to providing advice on complex regulatory issues and negotiating complex agreements relating to the advertising, marketing and promotions industry. On behalf of both advertisers and advertising agencies, he is regularly involved in the drafting and negotiating of a wide variety of agreements including agency/client agreements, sponsorship agreements, talent contracts, music licenses, commercial production agreements, and software license agreements. Mr. Johnston also regularly counsels clients in a variety of fields on issues relating to all aspects of intellectual property, including copyright and rights of privacy and publicity.

Mr. Johnston has been recognized as a leading lawyer for media and entertainment law by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2012-2014). He has also been recognized by The Legal 500 U.S. for five consecutive years (2010-2014) in the area of advertising and marketing. In addition, he was recognized as one of the top entertainment attorneys in Variety magazine’s “2014 Legal Impact Report.”

REPRESENTATIVE ENGAGEMENTS

Advised a U.S. professional golf organization and Russian professional hockey league on television rights agreements.

Advised a beer distributor on all aspects of the development, creation, and exploitation of the inaugural Premios Deportes sports awards program, including the negotiation of network license agreements and advice regarding online and premium text message voting.

Negotiated production, licensing and distribution agreements for The Beat of London, a global television show broadcasting live from the 2012 London Olympics, featuring live musical performances and appearances by international Olympic athletes.

Negotiated production and network distribution agreements for the ABC summer series Fast Cars and Superstars, a reality competition series pairing NASCAR drivers with celebrities such as Jewel, William Shatner, and Serena Williams, in a thrilling race to be crowned the ultimate racing superstar.

Advised an advertising services company and co-authored comments to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding possible revisions to the FTC's value on disclosure of product placements in television programming.

Counseled a nonfiction media company on the acquisition of Franklin Media Networks, LLC and its internet properties Petfinder.com and petsincredible.com.

Advised a consumer products company in connection with the Screen Actors Guild audit of its professional athlete endorsement agreements.

Successfully secured carriage for start-up cable network throughout the United States and advised on a program acquisition.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS

BAR ADMISSIONS

EDUCATION

UCLA School of Law (Order of the Coif) and Anderson School of Management at UCLA, J.D./M.B.A., 1997University of California at Los Angeles School of Theater, Film and Television, B.A., magna cum laude, 1991

REPRESENTATIVE ENGAGEMENTS

Advised a U.S. professional golf organization and Russian professional hockey league on television rights agreements.

Advised a beer distributor on all aspects of the development, creation, and exploitation of the inaugural Premios Deportes sports awards program, including the negotiation of network license agreements and advice regarding online and premium text message voting.

Negotiated production, licensing and distribution agreements for The Beat of London, a global television show broadcasting live from the 2012 London Olympics, featuring live musical performances and appearances by international Olympic athletes.

Negotiated production and network distribution agreements for the ABC summer series Fast Cars and Superstars, a reality competition series pairing NASCAR drivers with celebrities such as Jewel, William Shatner, and Serena Williams, in a thrilling race to be crowned the ultimate racing superstar.

Advised an advertising services company and co-authored comments to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding possible revisions to the FTC's value on disclosure of product placements in television programming.

Counseled a nonfiction media company on the acquisition of Franklin Media Networks, LLC and its internet properties Petfinder.com and petsincredible.com.

Advised a consumer products company in connection with the Screen Actors Guild audit of its professional athlete endorsement agreements.

Successfully secured carriage for start-up cable network throughout the United States and advised on a program acquisition.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS

American Bar AssociationNew York State Bar Association, Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law sectionSports Lawyers Association

BAR ADMISSIONS

New York

EDUCATION

UCLA School of Law (Order of the Coif) and Anderson School of Management at UCLA, J.D./M.B.A., 1997University of California at Los Angeles School of Theater, Film and Television, B.A., magna cum laude, 1991